Religious leaders react to ruling on same-sex unions

By Abe Levy :
June 26, 2013
: Updated: June 27, 2013 8:01am

Anel Flores, left, and Erika Casasola gather with other supporters for "The Day of Decision" Rally in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The rally was in celebration of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. It was organized by the Local Human Rights Campaign and GetEQUAL TX. Flores and Casasola have been together for eight years.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Carlos Soto celebrates along with other supporters during "The Day of Decision" Rally in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The rally was in celebration of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. It was organized by the Local Human Rights Campaign and GetEQUAL TX.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Dorothy Senac of San Antonio, celebrates at "The Day of Decision" rally in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The rally was in celebration of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. It was organized by the Local Human Rights Campaign and GetEQUAL TX.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Supporters gather for "The Day of Decision" Rally in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The rally celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. It was organized by the Local Human Rights Campaign and GetEQUAL TX.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Supporters gather for "The Day of Decision" Rally in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The rally celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. It was organized by the Local Human Rights Campaign and GetEQUAL TX.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

From left, Michael Torres, 20, Julius Lorenzi, 19 and Emmett Gonzalez, 19, celebrate with other supporters during "The Day of Decision" rally in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The rally was in celebration of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. It was organized by the Local Human Rights Campaign and GetEQUAL TX.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Adam Michalski joins other supporters at "The Day of Decision" Rally in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The rally was in celebration of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. It was organized by the Local Human Rights Campaign and GetEQUAL TX.

Photo By Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News

Richard Anthony and Jennifer Falcon go over notes before the start of "The Day of Decision" rally in front of the Bexar County Courthouse, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. The rally was in celebration of the U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. It was organized by the Local Human Rights Campaign and GetEQUAL TX.

Photo By Abbey Oldham/San Antonio Express-News

Dorothy Senac of San Antonio dances at the rally to celebrate the end of DOMA in front of the Bexar County Courthouse on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

Photo By Abbey Oldham/San Antonio Express-News

A megaphone rests on someone's hip at the rally to celebrate the end of DOMA in front of the Bexar County Courthouse on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

Photo By Abbey Oldham/San Antonio Express-News

People wave flags at the rally to celebrate the end of DOMA in front of the Bexar County Courthouse on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

Photo By Abbey Oldham/San Antonio Express-News

Dan Graney speaks at the rally to celebrate the end of DOMA in front of the Bexar County Courthouse on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Graney's husband died two years after they were married in Vermont in 2010.

Photo By Abbey Oldham/San Antonio Express-News

Dorothy Senac of San Antonio dances at the rally to celebrate the end of DOMA in front of the Bexar County Courthouse on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

More Information

A pastor with a local faith-based coalition, Voices for Marriage, which formed around socially conservative beliefs, described Wednesday's Supreme Court rulings on gay marriage as a new low in morality.

“It's a kick in the teeth to many of us who are trying to make sure the nation doesn't veer further away from Judeo-Christian values,” said Pastor Charles Flowers of Faith Outreach Center. “It's a really sad day for the United States to see there is a liberal majority in the Supreme Court who opened the door to disorder and chaos.”

Catholic leaders in San Antonio expressed similar dismay, describing the rulings as damaging societal fabric.The high court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act and declined to rule on a challenge to a California referendum, effectively making it the 13th state to recognize gay marriage.

Bans on same-sex marriage in other states, including in Texas, remain intact. The court also did not say whether there was a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

The court “ignored that marriage is a sacred institution defined by the unique union of one man and one woman,” San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller said in a prepared statement. “The court's decision does not in any way change the Catholic Church's fundamental teaching about marriage.”

He called on Catholics to support their faith's beliefs and take more action to protect traditional marriage.

Father Leo Perez, moral theologian at Oblate School of Theology, said the U.S. Catholic Church is increasingly having to coexist with secular policies and cultures, as it has in other countries.

“We can't recognize polygamy, for example, in the Catholic Church even though we do work in countries where it is lawful,” he said. “My suspicion is the Catholic Church and other Christian churches will continue to see marriage as a sacrament between one man and one woman no matter what the law is in the United States.”

The Rev. Paul Ziese, a leader in the local Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, said the issue has been polarizing for his denomination and others. Mainline Protestant groups' sparring over it has taken a toll on membership and caused congregational splits.

The ELCA has no single view on this matter but it's clear advocates for marriage equality have made great strides within the denomination, he said. Many had anticipated a day when the federal government would recognize same-sex marriage and foresee more and more states following suit.

“For those who see homosexuality as a sin, this will be difficult,” Ziese said. “For those who do not and believe people are born gay or straight, it's an act of justice to let them love who they wish.”